After-School Reading Camp Improves Learning Outcomes

Since 2003, PM-International partners with World Vision, a relief, development, and advocacy organization dedicated to working with children, families, and communities. We work together towards implementing sustainable solutions for the development of infrastructure, education, sanitation, and self-sufficiency.

In Ghana, for example, the educational standard has significantly improved thanks to the work of World Vision and the engagement of the local community. New schools were built, kids were equipped with learning material, teachers underwent further training and parents were taught about the importance of education. Now, most families know how important education is to escape poverty. The after-school reading program in Krachi East is one of World Vision’s education projects, promoting higher literacy. It is financed by sponsors’ contributions, like those made by PM-International. Gloria, also one of PM-International’s sponsored children, is actively involved in one of the reading camps. Not only did she learn how to read herself, but now she teaches and helps out her friends as well. This is the story as told by Sasu Brako, Education Project Officer of World Vision Ghana:

Spreading Literacy

In the Krachi East District of Ghana, many children are unable to access books in the language they speak at home (their “mother tongue”). World Vision Ghana works in partnership with Ghana Education Service and local printers to write and print over 70 new book titles in local languages. These books are donated to After-School Reading Camps and kept in “book banks” which act like libraries in the communities. Children borrow books from the book bank during their After-School Reading Camp sessions. Currently, over 3,500 copies of these books have been distributed to 22 After-School Reading Camps across the Krachi East Area Program.

A volunteer displays books donated by World Vision to his After-School Reading Camp.

The After-School Reading Camp is an integral component of the education project for early grade learners. It’s a place where children can go after school and on weekends to build on the literacy skills they have learned at school. Trained community volunteers manage the reading camps. The volunteers help the children to sing songs, dance, and read stories – all of which focus on building reading skills.

Gloria’s Transformation

Twelve-year-old Gloria, a PM-International sponsored child in World Vision’s Development Program, could not read or write when she started attending After-School Reading Camp sessions, like many other children in her community. Her vocabulary was limited to the alphabet which she was taught in school. Today, she is able to confidently read passages from books as a result of the After-School Reading Camp.

Gloria also plays an active role in supporting reading camps. She reads stories to her friends and afterwards they ask each other reading comprehension questions. Gloria says “I always have a great time reading to my friends and leading them to read too.”

Jonas, a reading camp volunteer at Kwame Akura community, where Gloria attends reading camp, says: “None of the children at this After-School Reading Camp were able to fully read or write when they first joined. The reading camp has really helped them develop their reading and comprehension skills considerably.”